🔗 Share this article The English along with Welsh Pitted in the Same Group for RWC 2027 Down Under The pool stage draw was overseen by sporting icons such as two-time World Cup winner Dan Carter. England together with Wales find themselves placed in the same group for the 2027 RWC, promising a major early encounter in the tournament Down Under. They are joined in Group F by Tonga and the Zimbabwean Sables. This pairing echoes their infamous meeting in the group phase of the 2015 tournament, where a Welsh win at Twickenham played a part in the hosts' shock group stage elimination. Other Notable Pool Draws The Irish alongside the Scots also share a pool once again, just as the scenario from the 2023 edition. In that tournament, Ireland secured a 36-14 victory, with Scotland unable to progress to the quarter-finals. Uruguay and Os Lobos, who each made a strong impression as surprise packages in the last World Cup, complete that same group. Significantly, the victors of these two groups cannot meet defending champions and world number one the Springboks until the showpiece match, assuming the Springboks top their assigned pool. Tournament Implications Should the pools play out according to the current global standings, other leading contenders like New Zealand and Les Bleus would remain separated from both England and Ireland until the championship decider. Under those circumstances, Argentina would be the other highly-seeded nation on the same half of the elimination bracket as England and Ireland. Tournament Hosts Face Blockbuster Fixture Hosts Australia find themselves together with their great rivals and triple champions the All Blacks in Group A. Australia will open the World Cup in Perth on October 1st, 2027 in a marquee fixture aimed at launch the event. Elsewhere, holders the Springboks have drawn Italy, Georgia and the Oaks. France are grouped with Japan, 2031 hosts the USA and Samoa. Expanded Format for 2027 Argentina will face the Flying Fijians, Los Leones and Canada as the World Cup expands to 24 teams from the twenty who competed in France. The 2027 tournament will feature a round of 16 stage for the very first time in Rugby World Cup existence. Although the winner of England and Wales's group may be kept apart from some of the rugby's biggest beasts initially, they will meet the second-placed team from Group B – most likely Italy – in the last 16. Four of the other six group winners will face a third-placed side from the initial group phase. RWC 2027 Groups Pool A New Zealand Australia Chile Hong Kong Pool B South Africa Italy Georgia Romania Pool C Argentina Fiji Spain Canada Pool D Ireland Scotland Uruguay Portugal Pool E France Japan USA Samoa Pool F England Wales Tonga Zimbabwe